Bamboo grass is a kind of food material that can be used as medicine. It contains various trace elements needed by the human body, especially potassium, which is several times higher than that of ordinary vegetables. Its nutritional value is abundant. Let's learn about the efficacy, function, and methods of consuming bamboo grass.
Picture of bamboo grass
【Morphological Characteristics of Bamboo Grass】
Bamboo grass is an annual herb with sprawling stems. The stems can grow up to more than 1 meter in length, with many branches. Some branches have branches on each node, and they are either hairless or have a row of short, stiff hairs.
The leaves are lanceolate or elongated oval in the lower part of the branches, 3-12 cm long and 0.8-3 cm wide. The apex is usually gradually pointed, sometimes not sharply pointed, and they are hairless or covered with short hairs.
There are often small red spots on the leaf sheaths of bamboo grass, with hairs only along the mouth and one side, or covered with short hairs. The scorpion-like umbels usually grow singly in the leaf axils of the upper part of the branches, sometimes appearing as pseudo-terminal inflorescences, with usually only one umbel on each branch.
The bracts fold to form a 2-4 cm long stalk, which becomes egg-shaped lanceolate after unfolding, with gradually pointed or short gradually pointed apex, heart-shaped or rounded base, hairless or covered with short, stiff hairs on the outside.
The umbel branches bifurcate from the base; one branch has a 1.5-2 cm long peduncle, which is perpendicular to the bracts and forms a straight line with the stalk of the bracts. There are 1-4 flowers on it, extending far beyond the bracts, but they are all sterile.
Picture of bamboo grass
【Efficacy and Function of Bamboo Grass】
1. Lowering blood pressure
Although bamboo grass grows thin and weak, it has great effectiveness as a medicinal herb and can also be consumed as food. Bamboo grass contains high levels of protein, which has a good effect on lowering blood pressure when used in cooking.
2. Clearing heat and detoxifying
Bamboo grass is best consumed in summer, as it has a good relieving effect on summer heat. It can be consumed for sore throat, heat toxins, or difficulty urinating.
Boiling bamboo grass with Portulaca oleracea and Plantago asiatica in water can effectively clear heat, detoxify, and diuretic.
3. Hemostasis and anti-cancer
Bamboo grass has a good hemostatic effect, which can be applied to wounds or consumed. Moreover, bamboo grass is alkaline and has a certain preventive effect on cancer.
Picture of bamboo grass
【Methods of Consuming Bamboo Grass】
When cooking bamboo grass, it is better to use a little more oil than usual, as bamboo grass tends to absorb oil. However, bamboo grass should not be stir-fried for too long. Just stir-fry it briefly until the aroma comes out, about 30 seconds is enough.
Stir-fried bamboo grass can be directly stir-fried or stir-fried with meat. The most common way is to stir-fry it with diced bacon. Cut the bacon into small pieces and fry it in a pan with oil. When the bacon turns golden, add the pre-prepared bamboo grass, without adding water, and add a little salt. Stir-fry over high heat and it's ready.
Dry-fried vegetables: When stir-frying bamboo grass, add a little water, but not all at once, as it will make the bamboo grass less fragrant.
Add a little water to keep the bamboo grass from drying out. The so-called dry-fried vegetables does not mean no water at all. Try it, a dish without water added will turn out very dry and the texture will be very poor.
